Le Chevau-Legere Lanciers

Part 2:
The Fifth Line Lancers:
Regimental History

by Stephen E. Maughan and Gunter Franke


Formed 1811 from the 10th Dragoons
Battle Honours on the Flag; ULM, AUSTERLITZ, JENA, EYLAU, FRIEDLAND.

Campaign of 1812

Attached to the Ist Cavalry Corps under Nansouty, in the 5th heavy cavalry division under Valance in the 3rd Brigade under de la Grange Armand with the 12th Cuirassiers. On 24th June the 5th had 160 men, they were at Borodino (see I st Lancers) and at Winkovo, also at the Beresina.

Campaign of 1813

Commanded by Colonel Chabert their actions were similar to those of the 1st Lancers. As of the 15th August they has 24 officers and 370 men.

Campaign of 1814

As the 1st Lancers. Renamed 'Lanciers d' Angouleme' under the Bourbons.

Campaign of 1815

Commanded by Colonel Jacquerninot attached to Reille's 2nd Infantry Corps in the 2nd Cavalry Division under Pire in the 2nd Brigade under Wathiez, 25 officers and 387 men strong. They marched with Reille's to Quatre Bras where they helped repulse the Brunswick Cavalry then accompanied by Cuirassiers and the 6th Lancers they rode down the 42nd Black Watch Regiment taking their Regimental Colour and killing the 42nd's Colonel Macara. Captain Menzies, a giant of a man, of the 42nd's Grenadier Company, standing six feet six inches tall without his highland bonnet, hacked many a lancer from their horse with his broadsword, an ancient weapon made by Andrea Ferrara. Upon receiving his seventeenth lance wound he fell to the trampled earth, surviving however to a great age to regale his dinner guests in Perthshire with the news that of his seventeen wounds, fourteen were mortal!

At Waterloo the 5th Lancers stood on the extreme left of the French line near Hougoumont facing the cavalry of Grant's Brigade they attacked the squares of Mitchel's infantry Brigade, failing to break them they rode past only to be counter attacked by Grant's Cavalry and repulsed.

Le Chevau-Legere Lanciers Part 2 Uniforms and Regimental Histories

Part 1: Polish Lancers

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